Berth-ladder.



E. B. DUNGON & B. SEE.

BERTH LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE a, 1908.

909,876. Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

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WITNESSES.-

IN VENTORS A TTORNE Y5 TH'E "clams PETERS co, WASHINGTON, a Cv ti i EDMUND B. DUNCON AND BYRON SEE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

BERTH-LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

Application filed. June 8, 1908. Serial No. 437,250.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EDMUND B. DUNCON and BYRON SEE, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of \Vayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful 1mprovements in Berth-Ladders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

In vessels, sleeping cars or the like, where it is desirable to have step ladders for gainin access to the upper berths, it is necessary that these be removable and adjustable in position along the berth.

It has been found in practice that the vibrations of the car or boat when moving, cause these to shake and rattle, the annoyance therefrom over-balancing their convenience, and preventing their general introduction.

This invention relates to a berth ladder for vessels, sleeping cars and the like, and adjustable securing means therefor adapted to prevent any rattling or play between the parts, and to permit their removal when desired.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of thefront rails of a tier of berths equipped with a ladder embodying features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a view in detail of an upper end of a ladder with the supporting fixtures, clamp and rod. Fig. 3 is a view in detail of a clamp, Figs. 4 and 5 are views in detail of the upper supporting bearing of the ladder. Figs. 6 and 7 are views in detail of the lower ladder bearings. Figs. 8 and 9 are views in detail of a rod bracket. Figs. 10 and 11 are Views in detail of a rod lock bracket.

Referring to the drawings, 1 and 2 indicate the upper and lower rails respectively of a tier of berths of conventional construction. An upper cylindrical horizontal track rod 3 and similar lower rod 4 are secured in parallel relation at an interval from the faces of the rails, each removably supported at its ends in metal bearing brackets. One bracket 5 of each set has a base plate 6 secured by screws 7 or the like to the berth rail, with an arm 8 carrying a socket adapted to receive the end of the rod. The bore of the socket is larger than the outer diameter of the rod and is enlarged beyond its mouth to receive and retain a bushing 9 of fiber, hard leather, vulcanized rubber or the like, which is expanded into place in the socket, and a disk 10 of like material lines the socket bottom. The other bracket of the set has a base plate adapted to be held in place by screws 11 or the like, an arm 12 integral therewith and a socket thereon, one half of which is integrally formed on the arm.

The mating half 1% is formed on a cam arm 15 pivoted by a cap screw 16 or the like to the arm 12 and held in normally closed position by a spring finger 17. The latter is secured against the base by one of the retaining screws 11, and the base itself has an indent 18 to afford clearance for the spring. The rail rod may therefore be withdrawn by pulling one end out of the spring and socket, the enlarged aperture of the other socket permitting the rod to be turned through a slight angle before withdrawal. A ladder is slidably mounted on these rods. A pair of metal side bars 19 of suitable proportion are held in proper relation by spacing rods 20 at the upper and lower ends and steps 21, preferably with downturned ends held by rivets 22. The upper ends ofthe side bars have alined guide apertures 23 and the lower ends bearing slots by which the ladder is mounted on the track ends. Bearing bushings of fiber, or like material, secured in the upper apertures 23 by washers 27 held by rivet pins 28 or the like and linings 29 of like material in the slots clamped by slotted washers 30 fastened by rivets 31 or the like, prevent the contact on metal and consequently any noise therefrom. Preferably, the washers are offset around their apertures to permit the bushings and linings to have suflicient length for good bearing surfaces.

A lever 32 bent between its ends and pivoted near the angle by a pivot bracket 33 to one of the side bars 19 below the upper spacing rod 20, has an upper arm 84. concaved to bear against the rod 20 and pro vided with a lining 35 of cork, fiber, leather or like non-metallic substance. A suitably disposed spring 36 projects the lever normally against the red, the lever being preferably properly designed to form a handle grip, so that a person grasping the upper end of the side bar, may readily grip the lever also and depress it, thus permitting the ladder to be moved freely along the rods.

VVhen in normal position the lever prevents any movement of the ladder and likewise any shaking or play between the parts.

One of the features of the construction shown is the anti-rattling arrangement of the joints because of the taking up of the play by the spring clamping lever and the using of fiber or the like to prevent contact of metal on metal at the joint.

Another feature is the readiness with which the ladder and upper track rod may be bodily removed.

Obviously, changes in the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and we do not limit ourselves to any particular form or arrangement of parts.

What we claim as our invention is 1 The combination with a pair of hori: zontal track rods, supports therefor, bearings in the supports detachably engaged by the rods and adapted to automatically prevent play between contacting parts, of a ladder laterally movable on the rods, and clamping means on the ladder having frictional, yielding engagement with a track rod adapted to prevent play between the ladder and the rod.,

2. The combination with a-pair of horizontal track rods, a pair of supports for each rod, spring yielding hearings on the supports for the rods adapted to open laterally to release the rods and to automatically prevent play between contacting parts, of a ladder laterally movable on the rods, and clamping means on the ladder having frictional yielding engagement with a track rod, adapted to preventplay between the ladder and the rod.

8. The combination with a pair of horizontal track rods, supports therefor, bearings in the supports detachably engaged by the rods and adapted to automatically, pre vent play between contacting parts, of a. ladder laterally movable on the rods, a lever pivoted on the ladder having an arm adapted to frictionally engage a track rod, and a spring adapted to yieldingly press the arm against the rod. r

4. The combination with the front rails of a berth tier, of a pair of horizontal track rods, supports therefor secured to the rails, hearings in the supports detachably engaged by the rods and adapted to automatically prevent play between contacting parts, a ladder laterally movable on the rods and clampand the rod.

5. The combination with a pair of horizontal track rods, of a bracket having a bearing socket for one end of the rod, a companion bracket having a half socket there on, a mating half-socket formed on an arm pivoted to the bracket and a spring finger adapted to hold the arm in closed position; and a ladder laterally movable on the rods provided with friction clamping means adapted to prevent play between the parts.

6. The combination with the front rails of a berth tier of a bracket secured on each rail having a tubular socket, a bracket alined therewith on the rail having a half-socket, an arm pivoted on the bracket having a half socket mating with the half-socket of the bracket, a spring finger on the bracket engaging the arm adapted to normally hold means on the ladder for locking it to the rod.

7. The combination with the front rails of a berth tier of a bracket secured on each rail having a tubular socket, a bracket alined therewith on the rail having a half-socket, an arm pivoted on the bracket having a half socket mating with the half socket of the bracket, a spring finger on the bracket engaging the arm adapted to normally hold the ocket closed, a pair of track rods each secured at its ends in the bracket sockets, a ladder having side bars apertured near their upper ends, non-metallic bushings in the apertures adapted to slide on the upper rod, retaining washers on the bars over the bushings, nonmetallic bushings in guide slots in the lower extremities of the side bars hearing on the lower rod, a spring projected lever on a side bar having an arm adapted to frict-ionally engage a track rod, a spring holding the arm normally in contact with the rod, and a non-metallic lining on the arm.

In testimony. whereof we, aiiix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

EDMUND B. DUNGON. BYRON SEE. V

Witnesses C. R. STUKNEY, lVAL'rER A. GREENBERG- 

